Because my Study Abroad program begins at the end of this month, I decided to take advantage of the extra time to travel. While traveling, I thought I would give back and volunteer. I found an amazing Web site, http://www.volunteersouthamerica.net. I looked at the various options and eventually found a program that fit. The program is called Aldea Yanapay, and is located in Cusco, Peru. The focus is on children ages four to 12 in an after-school setting.At the school, we do art projects, tutor children, play games, and learn about various “themes” such as different countries or religions. During “religions week,” I found out that some of the children already knew that the Buddha’s original name was Siddhartha. I was impressed because I didn’t learn that until much later in life.

For over an hour every weekday, the children, organized into “families,” learn about the theme of the week. The theme, so far, has been countries. We teach the kids about one different country each time, including its capital, customs, leadership, and sometimes even its dances.

It is amazing how much information these children are learning. When I joined the project, I was not given the highest impression of the schools here. The information these children are getting through the project expands their knowledge in ways that they might not get at their schools.

The focus of the project is on love, tolerance, non-violence and self-respect. The children at the school come from various backgrounds – some well-off, some not. Volunteers stress that these children are more than just their socio-economic statuses.

Some of the children come from mafia families – not the Italian kind, but more out of “Slumdog Millionaire.” Some children are forced to sell cheap goods such as candy on the street, or they won’t have a place to sleep for the night. It is a scary reality. But in the program, the children are all equal, drawing, playing games, and learning about the topics.

“All you need is love,” are John Lennon’s famous words, and love is a key value in this particular program. When the children show up, the volunteers greet them with hugs and kisses on the cheeks. There are hearts all over the classrooms. Aldea Yanapay is truly a special place to volunteer.

Follow my adventures in South America at www.jswanders.blogspot.com.